Xingtian, also known as Xingyao, formerly known as Xingtian, is a god in ancient Chinese mythology. In "The Classic of Mountains and Seas", he is a headless giant who is a military minister of Emperor Yan.
According to oracle bone inscriptions and bronze inscriptions, Xingtian is a human-shaped symbol and a symbolic totem of a clan or tribe. Xingtian was originally an unnamed deity of the Chinese people. He was called "Xingtian" after his head was beheaded. In the original version of "The Classic of Mountains and Seas", it is called "Xingtian", and the name "Xingtian" is believed to have been changed by Tao Yuanming. According to "Taoping Yulan" quoted from "Tao Jingjie's Collection of Poems on the Classic of Mountains and Seas", " "Xingtian" means "the body will die young", but there may be mistransmissions and there are two theories: "Xingtian dances with relatives" and "Xingyao has no thousand years old".
For thousands of years, scholars have argued that Tao Yuanming used "Xingtian" or "Xingyao". In the Northern Song Dynasty, Zeng Hong said that "Xingtian dances with Qianqi" was correct, but Zhou Bida in the Southern Song Dynasty refuted it. , believes that the use of "Xing Tian Wu Qian Qi" in poetry is illogical, so "Xing Yao has no thousand years old" is correct. However, in the Qing Dynasty, Tao Shu tended to Zeng Hong's theory. Later, Lu Xun and Guo Moruo believed that "Xingyao" and "Xingtian" could not achieve this meaning, so they used "Xingtian".
In "The Book of Mountains and Seas: Overseas Western Classics", Xingtian's detailed deeds are recorded: "Xingtian competed with the emperor for gods, and the emperor cut off his head. He was buried on a mountain with constant sheep, and he used milk as his eyes. The navel is the mouth, and the stem is used to dance. "Xingtian was a civil servant of Emperor Yan in mythology. He loved music and composed poems such as "Fu Liqu" and "Fengnian Ci" for Emperor Yan's birthday [6].
After Emperor Yan was defeated by Huang Emperor at the Battle of Banquan, Xing Tian followed Emperor Yan and settled in the south. At that time, Chiyou raised an army to take revenge, but was bulldozed by the Yellow Emperor. As a result, his head was missing. Xingtian was so angry that he took an ax in his hand and went to the Nantian Gate in the center of the heaven, naming himself to challenge the Yellow Emperor in a one-on-one fight. In the end, Xingtian was defeated and his head was beheaded by Huangdi with the Kunwu sword.
In order to avoid the resurrection of Xingtian, Huangdi buried his head in Changyang Mountain. However, the headless Xingtian did not die because of this. Instead, he stood up again, using the two nipples on his chest as eyes and his navel as a mouth; he held a shield in his left hand and an ax in his right hand. Because he has no head, he can only slash towards the sky and fight with the invisible enemy forever. The eternal battle is a tragic figure.
In later generations, Xingtian became a symbol of brave soldiers. Among all dynasties and generations, he was even compared to the god of battle. And in Tao Yuanming's "Reading the Classic of Mountains and Seas": "The Jingwei holds the tiny wood and will fill the sea. The Xingtian dances with Qianqi, and the strong will is always there. There is no similarity between the same things, and there is no regret when they are gone. They are just in the past. Heart, good times are waiting for you!" to praise Xingtian's spirit.
In modern times, Xingtian often becomes a character in computer games, mostly because of his unique appearance, tragic and brave image.